Wellness in the Workplace: Nutrition Strategies for Healthcare Facilities

The focus of every healthcare facility is to help patients get better and stay healthy. That’s a noble goal, but what about the workers in those facilities? They need to be healthy to thrive in their roles and deliver reliable service to patients, but they often lack access to nutritional options that support this goal. 

Making food and beverage options available that support the well-being of workers in a healthcare facility is a big step forward. And it doesn’t have to be as difficult as it sounds! In fact, all it takes is working with the experienced team at InReach to stock healthy office vending machines or create a new micro market. Connect with us today to learn more. 

The Nutritional Challenges of Healthcare Facilities

Several distinct issues make proper nutrition for healthcare workers a challenge. The first is the long shifts. It’s common for employees to work for 12 hours or longer, including overnight shifts, when some food services may be closed. There is also the lack of free time during those shifts to consider. Hospitals and other care facilities are busy places, and long, relaxing breaks are often simply not available. 

For these reasons, workers often struggle to keep up with their nutritional needs during a shift. This can affect their performance on the job and also their overall well-being away from work. Improved nutritional options and habits can go a long way toward making things better in and out of the hospital.

A Few Smart Strategies

It’s certainly possible to improve healthcare workers’ nutrition on the job. All it takes is some careful planning and a little help from a partner like InReach. Among the strategies you may want to consider to improve workplace health are:

• Embracing Grab-and-Go Options: The workday of a healthcare facility employee isn’t going to become more leisurely anytime soon. Therefore, food options should be tailored to the fast-paced environment typically found in these buildings. Grab-and-go options like salads, wraps, fruit cups, and more are ideal for this setting.
• Offering Meal Replacement Choices: Another way to get around the hectic schedule problem is to have meal replacement products available in the facility. These might include items such as protein shakes and energy bars. Anything that allows the individual to consume a significant number of calories in a short time is a good option.
• Providing Some Comfort Foods: While you want to have many nutritious options available, sometimes a snack or treat that is more indulgent really hits the spot. A good food program will also include such alternatives for when a worker needs a quick break and a reset with a tasty bite or two. 

Keeping Workers Hydrated

Employees will always fall short of wellness goals if they aren’t properly hydrated. It’s easy to forget to stop for a drink while caring for patients, but staying hydrated is the only way to perform at a high level throughout a long shift. Plenty of hydration options should be close at hand, so in addition to water, you’ll want to offer choices such as herbal teas, electrolyte beverages, and of course, coffee. 

Improved Wellness Is a Phone Call Away

It’s not often that you have the chance to make such a profound difference in the lives of your employees. Giving them a range of healthy office snacks on the job can offer them an immediate boost and improve patient outcomes at the same time. With the right partner on your side, a reliable, sustainable food services program can be in place almost immediately.

Proudly part of Sodexo, InReach offers global reach, customized attention, and a large, growing buying network that keeps food costs low and quality high. Contact us today to learn more.